Sign in Subscribe

Dave Askins

Dave Askins

Bloomington, Indiana

Dave Askins is editor and publisher of The B Square Bulletin. A Hoosier native with a background in math and linguistics, he previously co-founded the Ann Arbor Chronicle with his wife, Mary Morgan.

Indiana’s highest court says Bloomington did not violate Constitution with Greek house definition

Indiana’s highest court says Bloomington did not violate Constitution with Greek house definition

Bloomington and other college towns in Indiana will be able to rely on institutions of higher education to help define what a sorority or fraternity house is. A unanimous decision issued by Indiana’s Supreme Court on Tuesday reversed a court of appeals ruling that said Bloomington had unconstitutionally delegated

Bloomington’s proposed law protecting encampments puts housing first: “We can’t shelter our way out of this problem.”

Bloomington’s proposed law protecting encampments puts housing first: “We can’t shelter our way out of this problem.”

Set for Wednesday are the first round of the Bloomington city council’s deliberations on a proposed new law that would provide protections to encampments of houseless people in city parks. The council could take a provisional vote, but there won’t be a vote on the question of enactment.

Proposed ordinance giving protections to houseless encampments gets a look from Bloomington human rights group

Proposed ordinance giving protections to houseless encampments gets a look from Bloomington human rights group

A proposed ordinance on encampments of houseless people in city parks got some scrutiny from Bloomington’s human rights commission at the group’s regular meeting on Monday. The commissioners voted 3–0 with two abstentions to endorse the proposed ordinance, with some caveats. The proposed law is set for

Bill that would regulate Indiana voting systems to ensure one-person-one-vote not seen as essential this session

Bill that would regulate Indiana voting systems to ensure one-person-one-vote not seen as essential this session

As the Indiana General Assembly passes its halfway mark, several bills have not met their required milestones to get further consideration. One of them was HB 1288, which deals with election security. It was sponsored by Representative Ryan Lauer, a Republican whose District 59 covers most of Bartholomew County, including

Downtown Bloomington water main break closes Walnut Street

Click to view slideshow. At around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, a water main break at 4th and Walnut streets in downtown Bloomington meant that roads were blocked off in both directions. At the time, city of Bloomington utilities estimated the repair would take at least four hours. Based

COVID-19 case numbers continue downward trend, vaccinations upward

COVID-19 case numbers continue downward trend, vaccinations upward

All the relevant infection numbers for COVID-19 in Monroe County and across the state of Indiana continue their downward trend. The IU Health and Monroe County vaccination clinics were closed on Monday and Tuesday due to the heavy snowfall, but are making up cancelled appointments. Brian Shockney, president of

Bloomington city council makes procedural debate out of prep for deliberations on homeless encampment ordinance

Bloomington city council makes procedural debate out of prep for deliberations on homeless encampment ordinance

A proposed new Bloomington law that would provide some protections to encampments of houseless people has been referred to the city council’s committee of the whole. On Wednesday night, after the proposed law’s first reading, the city council decided that its committee of the whole will meet next